InterPore2026

Direct Graphene Growth Enhances the Photo-electro Properties of WS2 Nanotubes

21 May 2026, 10:05

1h 30m

Poster Presentation (MS17) Electrochemical Processes in Porous Media Poster

Speaker

Asmita Dutta (Ariel University)

Description

We report the first-ever direct growth of a few layered graphene on WS2 nanotubes (NTs). This pioneering synthesis induced unprecedented electronic, optical, and electro-optical properties. By encapsulating WS2 NTs in graphene, a hybrid structure is created, combining the semiconductive properties of WS2 with the exceptional electronic properties of graphene. Photo-absorption spectroscopy identified distinct excitonic transitions in WS2 NTs and an additional π→π* transition in the hybrid structure, indicating strong interactions between the WS2 and the graphene. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations revealed enhanced light-matter interactions in the WS2/graphene core-shell system, demonstrating an 18% enhancement in the electric field and cavity mode confinement compared to the uncoated WS2. The designed photo response is achieved by modifying the dielectric environment and the overlap of Fermi levels within the hybrid NTs. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed substantial bandgap modulation due to graphene encapsulation, with an 87.5% reduction in the bandgap of the tubular WS2 NTs, compared to a 38.5% reduction in the 2D planar structure. This effect is driven by electronic hybridization at the WS2/graphene interface and the stress-induced properties unique to the nanotubular geometry. Although WS2 is the only photoactive component of the composite, the addition of the non-photoactive graphene significantly enhanced the photoresponse of the hybrid structure. This property was exploited for photo-electrocatalysis (PEC) of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The WS2/graphene nanocomposites exhibited a 49.1% enhancement in reduction current when the electrodes were exposed to light compared to only an 8.9% increase observed for the uncoated WS2 under the same conditions. These results underscore the potential of WS2/graphene NTs as tuneable materials for improved light absorption and charge carrier dynamics, offering a promising avenue for efficient photocatalysis and energy conversion technologies.